Category Archives: Emmett

Today’s my first Life in Pictures link-up! I’m excited!

I’m giving a new link-up a try – the premise is to share a post FULL of pictures, but to use as few words as possible, so that you, my lovely readers, can guess what it is I am or was doing. I thought it would be kind of fun to give it a go! If you’d like to play along and share a “life in pictures” post on your blog, you can link it up at Linda’s blog, Fit Fed and Happy.

Here we go!

I woke up and used this…

At lunch time I enjoyed this…

After work I did this…

For dinner I had this…

And before Emmett went to bed, we did this…

Your turn!

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Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby boy, who is officially 2 years old.

There’s no way in the world, that I expected time to pass by as quickly as it has. Here’s a collection of photos, of Emmett from the past 2 years. It’s fun to reminisce, but it was a serious struggle to choose just a few for this happy birthday post.

I know I’m biased, but he is such a beautiful boy. He has a good heart, always giving hugs and kisses and wanting to help. I hope that all of this never changes and that he stays as sweet as he is right now.

Happy Birthday, Emmett!! You are truly the love of my life, thank you for being my boy!!

If you’d like to read more about Emmett and his past two years, check out all of my Dear Emmett letters, by clicking here.

23 Months!? Seriously!?

I find it really hard to believe, but you’re officially 23 months old! We’re nearing the 2 year mark, and I just don’t know how that is possible.

The very first thing I want to say is that you can count to 10!!!! Yes, seriously! You are not even 2 years old and you can count to 10. And I don’t mean, I say the number and you repeat after me, I mean I say one, you say two, I say three, you say four, ALL the way up to 10. This may be totally normal abilities for a 23 month old, but I’m pretty darn impressed. You went from an adorable little lump to a baby who doesn’t need his momma quite as much any more.

You’re also pretty awesome with your colors. For the most part, when I hold up a crayon, you’re able to name it accurately. There are a few times when you aren’t entirely focused on what we’re doing, that you’ll say the incorrect name, but it’s obvious that you know what you’re doing. Impressive my son!

We’ve had an exciting month, so much going on! We’ve spent a good majority of the month, both on weeknights and weekends, outdoors. No couch potato here! You love being in your own backyard or at the playground. Most recently, you’ve gotten a huge affinity for swinging, so we’ve been making loads of stops to the park down the street so we can oblige you.

You’re a huge fan of your Aunt Bridget and you got to spend some time with her before she goes off to work at camp for the summer. We all went out for frozen yogurt, you wanted nothing to do with the dish I bought for you and I to share, you only wanted Aunt B’s. I ended up going to get you your OWN bowl, which you still just picked at and wanted Bridget’s. It was pretty funny!

Aunt Bridget also took you out for your first experience splashing in the big puddles on a warm day. When she came out to visit, she took you out and you guys walked around look for puddles to jump in. For the next couple of days after that, all you could talk about is “PUDDLES!” Little Cutie!

Since your birthday is towards the end of July, and we asked your grandma to get you a sandbox as a gift. She sent it to you early so that you could enjoy it before the summer ended. Your daddy filled it up with sand, and I took you in the backyard to see it for the first time. Your reaction was priceless!!

However, the downfall is that you are not a huge fan of touching the sand. It was getting in your shoes, so I figured the solution would be to just take your sandals off, but you refused to touch the sand with your feet, cringing at the feeling. You’re the same way with grass, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. We’ll work on it! In the meantime, you do like dumping water into it, and shoveling it around… You just don’t like touching it. 😉

We also went to our gym’s outdoor pool for the first time. It. Was. AWESOME! The water was so warm, and you were so happy to “jump in” and play with me. You’re still clinging tightly to me, not quite ready to do it on your own, but you’ll get no complaints from me. I get to enjoy holding you and smooching your chubby baby (toddler) cheeks. I’m looking forward to a summer in the pool with you.

We also, in all that we have going on, find a small amount of time for TV. Your show of choice nowadays is this creepy bunny called Harry the Bunny. Each episode is about 5 to 8 minutes long and it’s very simple. But I think that simplicity is why you like it so much, because if I turn it on when we first get home, so that I can change out of work clothes, you are sucked in within moments. Wonder what kind of subliminal messaging is involved… JUST kidding!

Having you as a child continues to be amazing! Watching you grow more and more aware of the world around you, and become more independent is just mind-blowing. I had no idea that having a child could be this moving, I’m so glad I get to experience it all with you!

I love you, my little 23 month old toddler!!

Love,

Mommy

Can you believe it!? This little pip squeak is 22 months old today!

But, believe it or not he is. He lights up my life in every possible way, and I simply cannot imagine my life without him. I’ve been feeling like this blog, named after this cutie, has been lacking a lot of Emmett-centric posts, so I thought I’d write one today.

Since my last update so much has changed! Your vocabulary has blossomed, and I can’t even begin to remember every single word you know. You know the names of so many things, and can ask for what you want with ease. Any time that you’re not sure of the name of something, if we ask you to show us, you have no trouble getting up and pointing out what you want.

And sentences!? They’re no match for you! You can easily put together short sentences, without any trouble. Things like, “Turn off!” or “Emmett’s Shoes” Each new thing you do or say just blows me away. Every time you comprehend something I say, I’m nearly moved to tears with the pride I feel for you. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to be a blubbering mess at every milestone along the way.

Physically, you’re a whirlwind. Bouncing from one thing to the next, hardly slowing down. You enjoy activities like coloring, quite a bit, but they seem to hold your attention for a short while before you’re off onto the next activity. You love legos (which you can say), trucks, cars, animals (monkeys especially), Elmo, Daniel Tiger and being chased. You have a blast sliding down a slide or swinging really REALLY high in a swing. You can spend hours in your bike trailer, as I pull you around the city, and on the rare occasion when we have nothing else going on, you’ll sit and watch a little bit of TV.

You love to move, and I’m not going to try and slow you down. I’m simply going to work hard to keep up!

As soon as we pull in the driveway, the first words out of your mouth on a near daily basis are, “run run run.” You want to go in the backyard and run! And, as much as I’d like to be a lazy bum, I remember how important it is to keep you up and moving, so out we go. We’ve had really great spring, cool and enjoyable. I’ve been trying to make sure we take full advantage.

We also had our second Mother’s Day together. You made me a couple adorable things at day care, a poem and a sweet, I love you card. You sang a little song along with your classmates, and also got to spend the evening with grandma and Aunt Bridget. On the actual day, you and daddy gave me beautifully decorated cards and a gift certificate to get my hair cut. You both spoiled me! I feel very lucky!

You also had a teacher change in your classroom. I like your new teacher, but the transition from who you previously had to the new one, hasn’t been going smoothly. It is obvious to me that your care hasn’t been as top notch, as it previously had been. I’m trying to allow the school time to adjust, but I only want the best for you.

It has been a really fun month! And even though sometimes you are a maniac (in a good way), you still give your dad and I loads of hugs, kisses and cuddles. There is absolutely NO WAY that we could love you more. You’re amazing, and you make each day worth living.

I love you!
Momma

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**This is a month late, Emmett will be turning 21 months tomorrow, but I wanted to get this posted, despite the delay.**

We are well into April and Emmett celebrated 20 months a few weeks back, however I still wanted to write and get the memories out there.

Oh sweet sweet Emmett, I am beyond shocked that we’ve hit the 20 month mark. You continue to grow and change on a daily basis and are slowly becoming a little boy, and not my tiny baby. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled that you are growing so well and developing, I just can’t believe how quickly time continues to go.

Your Yellow Duck School Picture

I love you so deeply, and staring at you while you read or play has become one of my biggest hobbies. You have such a particular way of doing things, and I don’t quite understand what that way is yet, so it’s such fun to just watch you, as you learn. There were several times this month where you’d leave the room we were all in and go to your bedroom, when we would peek in to check on you, you’d be surrounded by your books, with one in hand, flipping through it. Or you would climb into your rocker and read to yourself there. It makes me so happy that you love books so much!

We all went through quite the upheaval this month, we spent the majority of it packing and despite any boredom you may have been experiencing, you were such a good little boy. We had to remind you to stop touching something, or to stop climbing, but overall you were so good considering your life was changing all around you. There were even moments when you would be so interested in what your dad or I were doing, that you’d help. There were several times when I’d be packing a box of your stuff and you’d come over and start handing me things to put in the box. You’re often so helpful!

However, I have to be honest, this month can’t be mentioned without sharing that you had some major meltdowns this month. You’re definitely getting to an age where you want to be independent on some stuff and when your dad or I keep you from expressing that independence (usually because it would harm you), you get very angry. At this point, I still think your tantrums are pretty cute. You stomp your legs, cry very hard and occasionally throw yourself on the ground. It ends pretty quickly, and has yet to happen in public, so right now, when they happen I let them run their course and then give you a hug and explain why you can’t do what you want to do. By then, your anger is usually forgotten. Like I mentioned, your’e a really good boy!

Food-wise, you’re still a great eater on the majority of days. Certain days you won’t like what your dad or I cooked, or you just won’t be in the mood to eat, but overall you’ll try anything we give you, at least once. St. Patrick’s Day fell in this month and you just LOVED corned beef, potatoes and cabbage. You went to town on ALL of it, (you can read about your other favorite foods here).

You’re still loving day care, and actually can say a couple of the other children’s names. It’s so fun to hear you repeat them, and I love that you still enjoy going to day care. It makes taking you so much easier! You adore your teacher, and she’s so kind to you. I will be sad when it comes time for you to move up, but we have a little while, yet.

Hugs and kisses are still your thing, and you give them to your dad and I pretty freely, which makes us endlessly happy. There’s nothing better than when you run around the house say, “Ugg, ugg, ugg.” (That’s how you say hug right now.)

You’ve also learned a ton of new words, but Emmett I’m really sorry, I kept terrible track of which words were new this month. I promise that I’ll start keeping better track, because it will be really fun to read these facts when you’re older.

Well Emmett, I think I’ll hit publish now because I’m a late posting this. I love you so so soooo much, and wish loads and loads of happiness for you!

Happy 15 months, Emmett!

I love you! Did you know that? I really truly am madly and deeply in love with you. I am so grateful that you are my little boy. I think our biggest news this month is that you completely self-weaned from breastfeeding on Sunday, 9/29/13. You woke up one morning and really resisted latching but eventually you did it, that night you refused, so you got a bottle of Whole milk. The next morning (Sunday) when I tried to put you on your side to nurse, you pushed back and started crying and got VERY upset. I stopped pushing and determined that you had decided you were done and you haven’t had breast milk since.

I had originally set a goal of 18 months in regards to nursing you, with the caveat that if you decided to wean on your own, sooner, I’d go with that. I’m glad you felt safe and secure enough to wean yourself, but I won’t lie, I had a difficult time with it. I had no idea that when you nursed for the last time, that it would BE your last time. I hadn’t relished the moment we had nor did I try and capture any of the memories, because I assumed there would be a next time. I’m definitely not mad or upset with you, it just taught me to begin treating each moment like it could be the last and to enjoy those moments fully. I’m so happy that we had a full 14 months of breastfeeding! You’ve spoken your first word…. “Hi!” I’m sure it’s because your dad and I constantly say it to you, whether we walk into a room or find you looking at us, we’ll say “hi.” It is really adorable to hear! Your second word was your favorite fruit, banana! The first time I heard you say it was amazing! It was amazing that my little boy was learning to speak and associate words with objects. When you say the word, you typically say “nana” and have said the full word 1 time. Your dad or I will repeat what you said, only with the full word, to hammer home what you’re learning. We are SO proud of you! Over the past month you’ve said what seem like other words, like “buh-bye” or sometimes you’ll say “momma” but they are not with any regularity (yet) so I’m not sure if you know what they actually mean yet. Either way, you’re growing so fast! Over the last month you have become so much more aware. When we talk to you, you actually seem to know what we’re saying, if we speak in simple direct sentences. You know what “no” means and will typically stop what you’re doing, even if you go right back into it a second later. 😉 We can also ask you to “come here” or ask if you want “up,” and you understand very well. It’s just amazing watching you progress from little baby to toddler boy. You love making the monkey sound! Anytime we’re watching something on TV and there’s either a picture of a monkey or someone says the word monkey, you start going “oo-oo-oo-ee-ee,” it is so so cute and I just stare at you with a huge smile on my face because you blow me away. You’re also really good at making the cow and doggy sound when prompted, but of course you won’t make any sounds when we see someone new or visit family. Then you get really shy and either hide your face in your dad’s or my shoulder. I don’t mind, I’ll take the snuggle! Oh my goodness! I love this! When you’re getting ready for bed, after you’ve finished your nighttime milk, we have a ritual. I take your bottle and give you your binkie. Then I turn on your sound machine, put your blanket on my shoulder and flip you around to cuddle and rock. Previously, that’s where it would end but now you point towards your stuffed monkey (your “lovey”), once I give him to you, you pull him in close and tuck him under your little chin and then tuck your hand down under your belly. My heart melts every single time this happens and it happens nightly. I LOVE you! You’ve also become really really aware this week. When we talk to you, it seems as though you are starting to understand and sometimes I know you understand because when I ask you a question you’ll respond by shaking your head (no) or you’ll reach for what it is I’m offering you. It’s really neat to see this recognition occur, you’re becoming such a little boy. I can’t exactly put into words what it feels like when talking to you and seeing your recognition but it is such an incredible thing to see.

Fair warning **TMI**

To round out the month we had what your father and I called “poop-pocalypse 2013.” What a mess! It was early in the morning on a weekday, so I was putting my makeup on and your dad was making our breakfast and you were bopping around the kitchen, like you usually do. Your dad finished what he was doing and grabbed you and took you into your bedroom to get your diaper changed, he pulls down your pants and your diaper overflowed out of the leg hole of your diaper and down your leg. I finished what I was doing and came to help your dad clean you up, you’re at the age where you don’t like to have your diaper changed so we almost always have to hand you something to play with, so I handed you your shoe. When I looked closer at the shoe, there was poop ALL OVER IT! And now, since I’d given it to you to play with, it was all over your hands. AHHHHHH! I took the shoe away, cleaned your hands up and then tossed that shoe and it’s pair right in the trash, I just couldn’t bring myself to clean it. We got you all cleaned up and sanitized and then we walk into the kitchen… There were little baby poop-prints all over the kitchen floor. OMG! It was literally everywhere! It was late, we all need to get to work and school, so I quickly sprayed Lysol everywhere and cleaned it up that way. I just couldn’t leave poop-prints on the floor throughout the day. When your dad got home from work that night, he mopped the whole floor, but my goodness that was the biggest mess you’ve ever made. Hopefully that never happens again! Alright baby boy, that’s your 15 month update. I am excited to see what else is in store for us!

Your turn!

What were some of the fun things your child did at 15 months?

Want to read the other Dear Emmett’s I’ve written? Check them out here.